Wheel Bearings, Hubs & Seals
About Wheel Bearings, Hubs & Seals
Wheel bearings let each wheel spin freely while carrying the weight of the machine. Water, mud and heavy loads wear them, and a failing bearing hums or growls, gets louder with speed, or lets the wheel wobble. Owners shop here for wheel bearing kits, axle bearing kits, seals and wheel hubs.
Listings are by position and machine: front, rear, middle, front left/right, and sometimes front/rear in one kit. Some kits include spacers and seals, as with the Yamaha kit in the samples, so read what is in each. Hubs add two measurements. Spline count, such as 23 or 24 spline, must match the axle. The bolt pattern, written like 4/110, is usually read as four studs on a 110 mm circle, and it must match your wheels. The guide on UTV wheel bolt patterns explains how to read one. Tighten the axle nut as your service manual says.
Brands in this category include EPI, Parts Unlimited, SKF, All Balls and Moose Offroad. Pick your machine in the Ride Finder at the top of the page. While the wheel is off, look at Steering Knuckles and Suspension Bearings, Bushings & Seals. The group is in Steering & Suspension.
FAQs on wheel bearings and hubs
How can I tell that a wheel bearing is going bad?
Typical signs are a humming, growling or grinding noise that rises with speed, a wheel that feels rough when spun by hand, and play when you rock the wheel. Heat at the hub after a ride can also point to a failing bearing. Check it with the wheel off the ground.
How do I check a wheel bearing for play?
Support the machine so the wheel is off the ground, hold the tire at the top and bottom, and rock it. Then spin it and listen and feel for roughness. A little movement can come from other joints, so check those too. Your service manual lists the limits for your model.
What do spline count and bolt pattern mean on a wheel hub?
Spline count is the number of grooves that lock the hub to the axle, and it must match the axle. The bolt pattern, such as 4/110, gives the number of studs and the circle they sit on, in millimeters, and it must match the wheel.
Should wheel bearings be replaced in pairs?
Replace both bearings in the same wheel, and it is sensible to do the other side of the axle as well, since the miles and water exposure are the same. Many kits are listed left and right or front and rear, so check the contents.
Do I need new seals when I replace a wheel bearing?
Yes, fit new seals with new bearings. A seal keeps water, mud and grit out and holds grease in, and a used or damaged seal shortens the life of the new bearing. Some kits include the seals and spacers, so read the listing.
